Quick input on location requested

[AndyShutterbug]

Hello. Unfortunately, I've moved to a property which is not conducive to martins. However, the local nature center in Michigan has very good locations and seems to be interested in an upgrade. I've learned that they do have a very dilapidated old-style barn house with insufficient cavity space, round openings, and no way to raise and lower it. Although it is on a pond island 425 feet from an open observation structure, they've somehow managed to observe a nesting pair for the past two seasons. I am worried that they will get wiped out by an owl...especially if the colony gets any bigger/noisier/tastier.

The only human structure nearby is that observation platform. There are two long ponds/marshes which spread away from it with walking trails between and around them. Only the central path is free of trees after the first 200'. My question is: How important is the "30-120' from human home/structure" rule for colony placement relative to the need to be away from trees? Do people have successful colony placement farther away if the area is open? The fact that martins have apparently been willing to nest 425' away seems to suggest that it would be OK to go on the central spit of land, perhaps 20' off of the trail and right between these smorgasbord marshes. I'd love it to be closer to that tall observation structure in order to follow the best practices and create an immediate attraction (for people) just 40-50' from the tree line and parking area. However, the only spot ~50' from the structure/trees is sort of in a low spot and would then have a set of trees just past it by ~50'. And of course these trees could still grow.

This placement is obviously quite important. I've mostly seen colonies which were in close proximity to houses/structures. I believe PMCA's research colonies are out on the Presque Isle peninsula which doesn't have much in the way of structures (or maybe they got close to the coast guard or lavatories or something). So maybe the proximity to structures isn't as important as people?

What do you experienced folks say?

Also, I'm thinking that I would try to get something up ASAP so that the returning birds would have the option of trying the new housing. Alternatively, I've heard that putting up new housing while the birds are in their season and observing is less likely to concern them. In this case, the birds really need bigger, safer housing. So I'm leaning towards erecting ASAP if I can get one. ASY birds should be just arriving this week. Newcomers to follow in 4-6 weeks, right?

Thanks in advance!
Andy

[flyin-lowe]

I would put it up in the most open spot. I have seen colonies out in the middle of golf courses, there are some people milling around during the day but not any "structures" so to speak. Once martins get established they will typically stay unless predators start causing them problems. Years ago I posted pictures on here of some colonies I located near my old office, one of them had a house hanging in a tree, and others houses with branches touching the housing.
I sometimes think we give some animals more "credit" than they deserve. People will say martins won't move into housing out in the middle of nowhere because they "want" to be near humans as it makes them feel safer. They could correlate the two, or it could be that most people don't build a martin house out in the middle of nowhere, so there might not be studies to show how they would take to housing away from structures etc. People also forget that other than when they are not up here breeding, they are down south spending a lot of their time in tree's.
Just my uneducated opinion.

[flyin-lowe]

Here is an older thread....

viewtopic.php?p=148798&hilit=office#p148798

[AndyShutterbug]

Thank you for the input Flyin-lowe